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He rolled to his side, and grinned up at me "Well, maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it But marry me anyway You don’t need to be an Ender You’ve h to survive the first et it You needed to prove yourself Just marry me You know you want to marry me, you always have You could wear one of your mother’s dresses, we could have a baby"

So was true The rest, not so , Coal I don’t think you ever really knew me I want to be married, but not to someone who doesn’t really know me"

"No?" His eyelids drooped "Did you find so "It isn’t always about sex, you idiot I liketo be an Ender" I found my pants and vest, and yanked them on My boots folloiftly as did o in less than minute "You’re just upset because if I become an Ender, I’ll outrank you" The words crossed ht better of them, but they were true My eyes shot to his His jaw flexed and twitched Damn, that was it He didn’t wantthe powerhouse in our relationship "Take care of yourself, and don’t co the tie between us sever for the final time Even if he didn’t feel it, I knew the truth of our relationship He wanted a door down this path, I hadn’t been that Hence the fighting

He sat up, that da "Lark, you will always come back to me I am the only home you know I’m the safety net you’ll fall to when you fail at this"

I thought about the barracks, about Granite and even Mal, Blossom, and the other Seeders They were my home now, they were my family They would be my safety net if I fell

"Not anymore"

Chapter 10

I had to run in order to e of the forest beforeto ht Even then I kneould only have a fewto head back

The day was still cool, which was aheavy over the forest I foundrhyth in perfect sync with the forest, the flow of energy passing throughme as a part of the circle of power I’d never felt this kind of give and take before, not even close, and the strength hu, I pushed off hard and was shocked at the distance between one leap and the next How fast could I go, connected like this to the earth? I drew in a deep breath and cranked up the speed, pushing round up through ainst my open eyes

I let out a howl of excitea bevy of birds into the air with disgruntled squawks

And then, I was there, at the southern Edge, the recluse’s home in front of me

I stumbled to a stop and checked the sun’s position Less than a half hour for a trip that should have taken closer to five

"Mother goddess," I whispered